Termolo attachment for stringed musical instruments.



H. F. SCHENUIT.

TREMOLO ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATIGNEILEDSEPTJO,1917

1,292,987. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. SCI-IENUIT, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

TREMOLO ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed September 10, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. SCHENUIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tremolo Attachments for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means which may be incorporated within a stringed musical instrument by which the strings upon the sounding board may be manipulated to produce tremulous tones.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective, illustrating a portion of a stringed musical instrument in section and elevation to disclose the application of the tremolo device thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating the vital elements of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates the case of a stringed musical instrument which is fitted with a keyboard 11 upon which sets of keys 12 and 13 are mounted. These keys actuate the instrument action. The action may be of the construction commonly used on pianos or may be built according to the construction set forth in my co-pending application entitled Zither piano, Patent No. 1,238,718. As here-shown, the instrument is of the square type and is provided with a horizontally disposed sounding board 14 to the frame 15 of which strings 16 are mounted. These strings are carried over bridges 17 and fastened to tuning pins 18 adjustably anchored within the frame.

The bridge and tuning pins at the forward end of the frame are spaced a distance from each other. Tremolo pads 19 are positioned in this intervening space and beneath the portions of the strings extending from the bridge to the pins. These pads are circular and may be brought to bear simultaneously against the under surface of two adjacent strings. The object of using a pad for two strings is to reduce the number of pads. Each pad is mounted upon a vertically reciprocating plunger rod 20 which extends downwardly through an opening in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Serial No. 190,619.

The adjusting screw 23 is mounted within the end of a lever 24 which is secured upon a pivot pin 25 beneath the case on which it may swing vertically. This pin is mounted within bearing and spacin blocks 25, one of which is disposed each side of each lever, the forward end of which extends beneath the key-board and terminates within a housing 26 which is along the front edge of the case. This housing is formed of a vertical apron and a horizontal guide board through which a series of openings 27 are formed. Tremolo rods 28 are mounted to reciprocate within these openings and are supported upon the forward ends of the levers. A loose connection is effected between the tremolo rod and the lever by a screw 29 which extends through a washer 30 and then through a bushing 31 mounted within a vertical bore through the end of the lever. The screw is adjusted so that its head will not bind against the under face of the lever or its bushing, but will allow some latitude of movement between the lever and rod. A key 32 is mounted upon the rod to be depressed by the finger. Guide pins are positioned each side of each lever to stabilize it in its movement.

It will be understood that there are a plurality of sets of tremolo actions, as previously described, to act upon a series of strings. It has been found convenient to supply the strings producing notes from middle C to the F above the next C with this attachment while the remaining strings are only susceptible to the action of the piano action.

In operation, a certain note is struck by the keys with one hand of the player. While these keys are held down, the other hand is placed upon the tremolo keys 32. These keys are rapidly vibrated and will in turn cause minute oscillations of the levers 2 1. This will cause the pads 19 to be vibrated beneath the strings 16.

While I have shown the preferred construction of my tremolo attachment for musical instruments as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art ithout departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed. 7

I claim: 1. A stringed musical instrument comprisingbridges, tuning pins outside of the bridges, strings connecting the tuning pins over the bridges, pivoted levers extending under the strings, tremolo pads carried by the levers, each pad engaging some of the strings between a bridge and adjacent tuning pins, and keys upon the levers.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising bridges, tuning pins outside of the bridges, strings connecting the tuning pins over the bridges, a key-board for operating the strings, pivoted levers extending under the strings, tremolo pads carried by the levers, each pad engaging some of the strings between a bridge and adjacent tuning pins,

and keys upon the levers. V

In testimonyvvhereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY F. SCHENUIT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

